Fiber optic connection system and method of using the same

Abstract

A fiber optic connector comprises a body and a cable guide. The body comprises a first end for interfacing with a fiber optic transceiver and a second end for receiving a fiber optic cable. The body includes a passage from the first end of the body to the second end of the body for receiving the cable. The cable guide comprises a first end having a first inner perimeter and a second end having a second inner perimeter. The cable guide includes a passage from the first end of the cable guide to the second end of the cable guide for receiving the fiber optic cable. The first end of the cable guide is coupled to the second end of the body. The length of the first inner perimeter is less than the length of the second inner perimeter, thereby limiting bending of a portion of the fiber optic cable within and proximate the cable guide and allowing radial movement of the fiber optic cable within the cable guide.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fiber optic connector for receiving a fiber optic cable, comprising: 
 a body comprising: 
 a first end,  
 a second end, and  
 a passage from the first end of the body to the second end of the body; and  
   a cable guide comprising: 
 a first end coupled to said second end of said body, the first end having a first inner perimeter, and  
 a second end having a second inner perimeter,  
 a passage from the first end of the cable guide to the second end of the cable guide, the first end of the cable guide coupled to the second end of the body, the length of the first inner perimeter being less than the length of the second inner perimeter to limit bending of a portion of the fiber optic cable within and proximate the cable guide and allowing radial movement of the fiber optic cable within the cable guide.  
   
     
     
         2 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide limits bending of a portion of the fiber optic cable within and proximate the cable guide to a bend radius greater than a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         3 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide has a generally frustoconical shape, the first end of the cable guide having a first radius and the second end of the cable guide having a second radius, the first radius being less than the second radius.  
     
     
         4 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide is generally trumpet shaped, the first end of the cable guide having a first radius and the second end of the cable guide having a second radius, the first radius being less than the second radius.  
     
     
         5 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body and the cable guide form a weather-resistant housing for a portion of the fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         6 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cable guide is oriented with the first end of the cable guide above the second end of the cable guide, whereby downward moving water is deflected away from the passage of the cable guide.  
     
     
         7 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body has at least two openings at the first end of the body, each of the at least two openings being at least partially contiguous with the passage of the body, each of the at least two openings for receiving an optic fiber for communicating light data signals.  
     
     
         8 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of latches coupled to the body for securing the connector to a corresponding receptacle.  
     
     
         9 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the pair of latches form part of a handle to be grasped by a human hand.  
     
     
         10 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body passage secures an optic fiber without a ferrule and without a sleeve.  
     
     
         11 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body passage defines an optic wave-guide.  
     
     
         12 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a fiber optic cable disposed in the body passage and the cable passage, and the fiber optic cable comprises: 
 a first optic fiber for communicating light data signals; and    a second optic fiber for communicating light data signals.    
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second optic fibers each comprise plastic.  
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one gripping member extending along at least a portion of said cable guide; and    a latching member mechanically coupled to said gripping member and configured to engage a portion of a receptacle;    said gripping member configured to cause said latching member to disengage the portion of the receptacle in response to grip pressure thereby permitting removal of the connector from the receptacle.    
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a key extending from the body for mating with a correspondingly keyed receptacle.  
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body and the cable guide each comprise polyetherimide.  
     
     
         17 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body and cable guide are formed as unitary axial segments that are attached together.  
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the length of second inner perimeter is greater than about four inches.  
     
     
         19 . A fiber optic cable assembly, comprising: 
 a first fiber optic connector;    a second fiber optic connector, the first and second fiber optic connectors each comprising: 
 a body comprising: 
 a first end for interfacing with a fiber optic transceiver,  
 a second end,  
 a body passage from the first end of the body to the second end of the body,  
 
 a cable guide comprising: 
 a first end having a first inner perimeter, and  
 a second end having a second inner perimeter,  
 a cable guide passage from the first end of the cable guide to the second end of the cable guide, the first end of the cable guide coupled to the second end of the body, the length of the first inner perimeter being less than the length of the second inner perimeter; and  
 
   a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable being disposed at the first end of the body of the first fiber optic connector and the second end of the cable being disposed at the first end of the body of the second fiber optic connector;    the fiber optic cable traversing through the body passage of the first fiber optic connector, through the cable guide passage of the first fiber connector, through the cable guide passage of the second fiber connector, and through the body passage of the second fiber optic connector;    the cable guide of the first and second fiber optic connectors defining the cable guide passage to limit bending of a portion of the fiber optic cable within and proximate the cable guide of the respective first and second fiber optic connectors and to allow radial movement of a portion of the fiber optic cable within the cable guide of the respective first and second fiber optic connectors.    
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the fiber optic cable comprises: 
 a first optic fiber for communicating light data signals, the first optic fiber disposed through the cable guide passage of the first fiber optic connector and the cable guide passage of the second fiber optic connector; and    a second optic fiber for communicating light data signals, the second optic fiber disposed through the cable guide passage of the first fiber optic connector and the cable guide passage of the second fiber optic connector.    
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the first and second optic fibers each comprise plastic.  
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the first and second optic fibers each have diameters of about 1000 micron.  
     
     
         23 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the body and the cable guide of each connector comprise polyetherimide.  
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the length of second inner perimeter of each connector is greater than about four inches.  
     
     
         25 . The fiber optic cable assembly as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the cable guide of each connector comprises a pair of latches coupled to the body and forming a handle to be grasped by a human hand.  
     
     
         26 . A fiber optic transceiver for communicating with a fiber optic cable, comprising: 
 a light sensing device to communicate with a first optic fiber of the fiber optic cable, the light sensing device having a communication area that is responsive to light and the first optic fiber having a communication area for communicating light, the communication area of the light sensing device being larger than the communication area of the first optic fiber; and    a light producing device to communicate with a second optic fiber of the fiber optic cable, the light producing device having a communication area that emits light and the second optic fiber having a communication area for communicating light, the communication area of the light producing device being larger than the communication area of the second optic fiber.    
     
     
         27 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light producing device is adapted to interface directly to the second optic fiber without an external lens.  
     
     
         28 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light producing device is adapted to communicate with the second optic fiber with a gap between the communication area of the light producing device that emits light and an end of the second optic fiber.  
     
     
         29 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light producing device consumes less than one-quarter watt of power.  
     
     
         30 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the communication area of the light producing device that emits light has a diameter of about 3000 microns.  
     
     
         31 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light producing device is a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         32 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the light emitting diode emits visible light.  
     
     
         33 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the light emitting diode emits visible red light.  
     
     
         34 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light sensing device is adapted to interface directly to the first optic fiber without an external lens.  
     
     
         35 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light sensing device is adapted to communicate with the first optic fiber with a gap between the communication area of the light sensing device that is responsive to light and an end of the first optic fiber.  
     
     
         36 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light sensing device consumes less than one-tenth watt of power.  
     
     
         37 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the communication area of the light sensing device that is responsive to light has a diameter of about 2000 microns.  
     
     
         38 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the light sensing device is a photodiode.  
     
     
         39 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the photodiode is responsive to visible light.  
     
     
         40 . The fiber optic transceiver as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the photodiode is responsive to visible red light.  
     
     
         41 . A fiber optic connection system, comprising: 
 a fiber optic connector, comprising: 
 a fiber optic cable comprising: 
 a first optic fiber, and  
 a second optic fiber,  
 
 a body comprising: 
 a first end for interfacing with a fiber optic transceiver, and  
 a second end for receiving the fiber optic cable, the body defining a passage from the first end of the body to the second end of the body for communicating optical signals, and  
 
 a cable guide comprising: 
 a first end having a first inner perimeter, and  
 a second end having a second inner perimeter, the cable guide defining a passage from the first end of the cable guide to the second end of the cable guide for receiving the fiber optic cable, the first end of the cable guide coupled to the second end of the body, the length of the first inner perimeter being less than the length of the second inner perimeter, thereby limiting bending of a portion of the fiber optic cable within and proximate the cable guide and allowing radial movement of the fiber optic cable within the cable guide; and  
 
   a receptacle for receiving the fiber optic connector; and    a fiber optic transceiver disposed proximate the receptacle, the transceiver comprising: 
 a light sensing device aligned with the receptacle to communicate with a first optic fiber, the light sensing device having a communication area that is responsive to light and the first optic fiber having a communication area for communicating light, the communication area of the light sensing device being larger than the communication area of the first optic fiber, and  
 a light producing device aligned with the receptacle to communicate with a second optic fiber, the light producing device having a communication area that emits light and the second optic fiber having a communication area for communicating light, the communication area of the light producing device being larger than the communication area of the second optic fiber.  
   
     
     
         42 . A connector for receiving a cable, comprising: 
 a body comprising: 
 a first end, and  
 a second end,  
 a passage from the first end of the body to the second end of the body; and  
   a cable guide comprising: 
 a first end coupled to said second end of said body, and  
 a second end,  
 a passage from the first end of the cable guide to the second end of the cable guide, said passage being larger at said second end of said cable guide than at said first end of said cable guide to permit greater radial movement of the cable at said second end of said cable guide than at said first end of said cable guide.  
   
     
     
         43 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the cable guide limits bending of a portion of the cable within and proximate the cable guide.  
     
     
         44 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the cable guide has a generally frustoconical shape, the first end of the cable guide having a first radius and the second end of the cable guide having a second radius, the first radius being less than the second radius.  
     
     
         45 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the cable guide is generally trumpet shaped, the first end of the cable guide having a first radius and the second end of the cable guide having a second radius, the first radius being less than the second radius.  
     
     
         46 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the body and the cable guide form a weather-resistant housing for a portion of the cable.  
     
     
         47 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the cable guide is oriented with the first end of the cable guide above the second end of the cable guide, whereby downward moving water is deflected away from the passage of the cable guide.  
     
     
         48 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the body has at least two openings at the first end of the body, each of the at least two openings being at least partially contiguous with the passage of the body, each of the at least two openings for receiving an optic fiber for communicating light data signals.  
     
     
         49 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , further comprising a pair of latches coupled to the body for securing and aligning the connector to a corresponding receptacle.  
     
     
         50 . The connector as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the pair of latches form part of a handle to be grasped by a human hand.  
     
     
         51 . The connector as recited in  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 at least one gripping member extending along at least a portion of said cable guide;    a latching member mechanically coupled to said gripping member and configured to engage a portion of a receptacle; and    said gripping member configured to cause said latching member to disengage the portion of the receptacle in response to grip pressure thereby permitting removal of the connector from the receptacle.